Most Americans Say Iraq War Not Lost

A new UPI/Zogby poll finds a majority of Americans - 54% - believe the United States has not lost the war in Iraq.

As usual there is a huge partisan divide on this question:

While two in three Democrats (66%) said the war effort has already failed, just 9% of Republicans say the same.

This Democratic defeatism echoes that of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said in April that he believed that "this war is lost and that the surge is not accomplishing anything."

While the President's approval for his handling of the war improved, up to 27% from 24% in July, Congress remains stuck at a 3% approval rating for its handling of the war. Nearly all Democrats -95% are dissatisfied with the way the Democratic Congress has handled the war. Perhaps Democrats would hold a higher opinion of Congress if Democratic leaders advocate victory rather than retreat. If Democrats would join in the call for Reids resignation over his moral support for our enemies, other Democrats in Congress would realize Americans want to win the war.

Americans are also split over which party, if elected in 2008, would be more likely to bring the war to a successful conclusion - 39% say a Republican president, while 36% say a Democratic president.

Asked which of the 2008 presidential candidates would best handle the war in Iraq, respondents preferred Rudy Giuliani - 14%, followed by Fred Thompson - 11%; Hillary Clinton - 10%; Barack Obama 9%; John McCain and Joe Biden - 7%; John Edwards - 5%,;Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Bill Richardson, and Dennis Kucinich - 4%. But more Americans said they were unsure (15%).

The poll was conducted August 17-20, and has a margin of error of +/- 1.2 percent.